MARCELLO MELE - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by MARCELLO MELE

Foods

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between dietary fat intake and ... more Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between dietary fat intake and the onset of several metabolic diseases. This association is particularly evident in a diet rich in saturated fatty acids, typical of animal foods, such as dairy products. However, these foods are the main source of fatty acids with a proven nutraceutical effect, such as the ω-3 fatty acid α-linolenic acid (ALA) and the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which have demonstrated important roles in the prevention of various diseases. In the present study, the effect of a supplementation with cheese enriched with ω-3 fatty acids and CLA on the metabolism and lipid profiles of C57bl/6 mice was evaluated. In particular, the analyses were conducted on different tissues, such as liver, muscle, adipose tissue and brain, known for their susceptibility to the effects of dietary fats. Supplementing cheese enriched in CLA and ω-3 fats reduced the level of saturated fat and increased the content of CLA ...

Additional file 13: Figure S7. Genetic relationship defined with multidimensional scaling analysi... more Additional file 13: Figure S7. Genetic relationship defined with multidimensional scaling analysis between Italian and 62 European cattle breeds. The breeds were grouped according to their geographical origins and distributions. Northern_Europe (Belgian Blue, Dexter, Kerry, Lithuanian Light Grey, Lithuanian White Backed, Groningen Whitehead, Lakenvelder, Meuse-Rhine-Ijjsel, Norwegian Red, Finnish Ayrshire, Belted Galloway, Galloway, Angus, Scottish Highland, South Devon), England (Devon, Guernsey, Hereford, Longhorn, Lincoln Red, Milking Shorthorn, Red Poll, Beef Shorthorn, Sussex, Welsh Blach, White Park), Spain (Berrenda en Negro, Berrenda en Colorado, Cardena Andaluza, Menorquina, Pirenaica, Morucha, Mostrenca, Negra Andaluza, Toro de Lidia), France (Abondance, Aubrac, Blonde D'Aquitaine, Bretonne Black Pied, Gascon, Maine-Anjou, Maraichine, Montbeliard, Normande, French Red Pied, Salers, Tarine, Tarentaise, Vosgienne), Germany (Gelbvieh), Switzerland (Simmental, Simmentaler,...

Additional file 10: Figure S6. Scatter plot of correlations between genetic differentiation (FST)... more Additional file 10: Figure S6. Scatter plot of correlations between genetic differentiation (FST) and geographical distances for all breeds.

Additional file 6: Figure S3. Distribution of all ROH within breeds according to their size (kb).

La Toscana è una Regione all'avanguardia nel campo della tutela dell'agrobiodiversità, es... more La Toscana è una Regione all'avanguardia nel campo della tutela dell'agrobiodiversità, essendosi dotata, a partire dal 1997, di un sistema di tutela delle risorse genetiche autoctone di interesse agrario, zootecnico e forestale rappresentato dall'attuale sistema della L.R. 64/04. Con l'attuazione del sistema nazionale della L. 194/2015, è parso utile verificare quale fosse lo stato delle conoscenze nell'ambito della tutela dell'agrobiodiversità regionale e quali gli aspetti di policy da individuare per la conservazione e la valorizzazione delle risorse genetiche autoctone. In questo contesto si sviluppa lo studio affidato dalla Regione Toscana al PIN Polo Universitario di Prato (sulle risorse genetiche vegetali) e al Centro di Ricerche Agro-ambientali "E. Avanzi" dell'Università di Pisa (sulle risorse genetiche animali). I risultati dello studio hanno consentito di ricostruire il quadro di riferimento su base documentale, dello stato di attuazio...

Latent variable models on performance tests

Herbivorous activity induces plant indirect defenses, as the emission of herbivorous-induced plan... more Herbivorous activity induces plant indirect defenses, as the emission of herbivorous-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), which could be used by parasitoids for host location. Psyttalia concolor is a larval pupal endoparasitoid, attacking a number of tephritid flies including B. oleae. In this research, we investigated the olfactory cues routing host location behavior of P. concolor towards B. oleae larvae infesting three different olive cultivars. VOCs from infested and healthy fruits were identified using GC-MS analyses. In two-choice behavioral assays, P. concolor females preferred infested olive cues, which also evoked ovipositional probing by female wasps. GC-MS analysis showed qualitative and quantitative differences among volatiles emitted by infested and healthy olives. Volatile emissions were peculiar for each cultivar analyzed. Two putative HIPVs were detected in infested fruits, regardless of the cultivar, the monoterpene (E)--ocimene, and the sesquiterpene (E-E)--farnesene. ...

Animals

Body measurements could be used to estimate body weight (BW) with no need for a scale. The aim wa... more Body measurements could be used to estimate body weight (BW) with no need for a scale. The aim was to estimate heifers weight based on their body dimension characteristics. Twenty-five Holstein heifers represent the study group (SG); another 13 animals were evaluated as a validation group (VG). All the heifers were weighed (BW) and their wither height (WH), shin circumference (SC), heart girth circumference (HG), body length (BL), hip width (HW) and body condition score (BCS) were measured immediately after birth, and then weekly until 2 months and monthly until 15 months old. Equations were built with a stepwise regression in order to estimate the BW at each time using body measures for the SG. A linear regression was applied to evaluate the relationship between the estimated BW and the real BW. Equations found were to be statistically significant (r2 = 0.688 to 0.894; p < 0.0001). Three variables or fewer were needed for BW estimation a total of 11/23 times. Regression analysis...

LGB is the most abundant whey protein in ruminant milk. LGB belong to a lipocalin superfamily, wh... more LGB is the most abundant whey protein in ruminant milk. LGB belong to a lipocalin superfamily, which is constituted by proteins with a numbers of functions, mainly related to the transport of metabolites (Pérez and Calvo, 1995). The members of this family show a high similarity, but the major structural motif is a common βbarrel topology (Fig. 1) (Ragona et al., 2000). LGB was proposed as a retinol binding protein in the intestine of newborns and involved in both transport and metabolism of dietary lipids, in order to facilitate the activity of pregastric lipase by sequestering free fatty acids as they are produced. Numerous variants of LGB are identified in cow (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, X, Y, Z, Dr), but the A and B ones are the most frequent. LGB A variant differs from B variant in the amino acid sequence at position 64 (AspA→GlyB) and 118 (ValA→AlaB). Introduction

Italian Journal of Agronomy

In the Mediterranean area, semi-extensive mixed farming systems characterise the inland landscape... more In the Mediterranean area, semi-extensive mixed farming systems characterise the inland landscape and guarantee the maintenance of several agroecosystem services. Rationed and rotational grazing have been proposed as efficient agroecological practices for sustainable intensification. Previous studies have highlighted that, during spring, restricted access time to pasture of below four hours per day decreases herbage intake and milk production of rotationally stoked ewes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of restricted access time on daily herbage intake and milk productivity of Sarda ewes under rotational grazing management in a real farm located in southern Tuscany. The entire flock of 145 lactating ewes was allotted two homogenous groups and rotationally stoked on a grass-legume mixed pasture and fed about 1.7 kg of DM ewe–1 d–1 of supplementation. Each group was then assigned to the following treatments: two hours per day of access time to pasture, from 10:00 to 12:0...

Progress in Nutrition, 2001

La valutazione dei riproduttori negli ovini viene attualmente svolta attraverso i classici metodi... more La valutazione dei riproduttori negli ovini viene attualmente svolta attraverso i classici metodi di stima del valore genetico utilizzando le informazioni relative ai fenotipi ed ai rapporti di parentela. Dato il sistema di allevamento, la difficolta ed il costo dei controlli funzionali e la scarsa efficienza della inseminazione strumentale non in tutte razze viene praticato il miglioramento genetico ed in ogni caso per il latte vengono valutati soltanto gli aspetti quantitativi della produzione (Carta et al . 2009). Tuttavia risultano di particolare interesse per il latte ovino gli aspetti nutraceutici con particolare riguardo al contenuto dei diversi acidi grassi per i quali e stata recentemente dimostrata l’esistenza di un determinismo genetico. L’individuazione dei geni responsabili delle caratteristiche quanti-qualitative del latte ovino permetterebbe quindi di aumentare l’efficienza del miglioramento genetico e di considerare nuovi obiettivi di selezione quali le caratteristic...

Foods

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between dietary fat intake and ... more Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between dietary fat intake and the onset of several metabolic diseases. This association is particularly evident in a diet rich in saturated fatty acids, typical of animal foods, such as dairy products. However, these foods are the main source of fatty acids with a proven nutraceutical effect, such as the ω-3 fatty acid α-linolenic acid (ALA) and the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which have demonstrated important roles in the prevention of various diseases. In the present study, the effect of a supplementation with cheese enriched with ω-3 fatty acids and CLA on the metabolism and lipid profiles of C57bl/6 mice was evaluated. In particular, the analyses were conducted on different tissues, such as liver, muscle, adipose tissue and brain, known for their susceptibility to the effects of dietary fats. Supplementing cheese enriched in CLA and ω-3 fats reduced the level of saturated fat and increased the content of CLA ...

Additional file 13: Figure S7. Genetic relationship defined with multidimensional scaling analysi... more Additional file 13: Figure S7. Genetic relationship defined with multidimensional scaling analysis between Italian and 62 European cattle breeds. The breeds were grouped according to their geographical origins and distributions. Northern_Europe (Belgian Blue, Dexter, Kerry, Lithuanian Light Grey, Lithuanian White Backed, Groningen Whitehead, Lakenvelder, Meuse-Rhine-Ijjsel, Norwegian Red, Finnish Ayrshire, Belted Galloway, Galloway, Angus, Scottish Highland, South Devon), England (Devon, Guernsey, Hereford, Longhorn, Lincoln Red, Milking Shorthorn, Red Poll, Beef Shorthorn, Sussex, Welsh Blach, White Park), Spain (Berrenda en Negro, Berrenda en Colorado, Cardena Andaluza, Menorquina, Pirenaica, Morucha, Mostrenca, Negra Andaluza, Toro de Lidia), France (Abondance, Aubrac, Blonde D'Aquitaine, Bretonne Black Pied, Gascon, Maine-Anjou, Maraichine, Montbeliard, Normande, French Red Pied, Salers, Tarine, Tarentaise, Vosgienne), Germany (Gelbvieh), Switzerland (Simmental, Simmentaler,...

Additional file 10: Figure S6. Scatter plot of correlations between genetic differentiation (FST)... more Additional file 10: Figure S6. Scatter plot of correlations between genetic differentiation (FST) and geographical distances for all breeds.

Additional file 6: Figure S3. Distribution of all ROH within breeds according to their size (kb).

La Toscana è una Regione all'avanguardia nel campo della tutela dell'agrobiodiversità, es... more La Toscana è una Regione all'avanguardia nel campo della tutela dell'agrobiodiversità, essendosi dotata, a partire dal 1997, di un sistema di tutela delle risorse genetiche autoctone di interesse agrario, zootecnico e forestale rappresentato dall'attuale sistema della L.R. 64/04. Con l'attuazione del sistema nazionale della L. 194/2015, è parso utile verificare quale fosse lo stato delle conoscenze nell'ambito della tutela dell'agrobiodiversità regionale e quali gli aspetti di policy da individuare per la conservazione e la valorizzazione delle risorse genetiche autoctone. In questo contesto si sviluppa lo studio affidato dalla Regione Toscana al PIN Polo Universitario di Prato (sulle risorse genetiche vegetali) e al Centro di Ricerche Agro-ambientali "E. Avanzi" dell'Università di Pisa (sulle risorse genetiche animali). I risultati dello studio hanno consentito di ricostruire il quadro di riferimento su base documentale, dello stato di attuazio...

Latent variable models on performance tests

Herbivorous activity induces plant indirect defenses, as the emission of herbivorous-induced plan... more Herbivorous activity induces plant indirect defenses, as the emission of herbivorous-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), which could be used by parasitoids for host location. Psyttalia concolor is a larval pupal endoparasitoid, attacking a number of tephritid flies including B. oleae. In this research, we investigated the olfactory cues routing host location behavior of P. concolor towards B. oleae larvae infesting three different olive cultivars. VOCs from infested and healthy fruits were identified using GC-MS analyses. In two-choice behavioral assays, P. concolor females preferred infested olive cues, which also evoked ovipositional probing by female wasps. GC-MS analysis showed qualitative and quantitative differences among volatiles emitted by infested and healthy olives. Volatile emissions were peculiar for each cultivar analyzed. Two putative HIPVs were detected in infested fruits, regardless of the cultivar, the monoterpene (E)--ocimene, and the sesquiterpene (E-E)--farnesene. ...

Animals

Body measurements could be used to estimate body weight (BW) with no need for a scale. The aim wa... more Body measurements could be used to estimate body weight (BW) with no need for a scale. The aim was to estimate heifers weight based on their body dimension characteristics. Twenty-five Holstein heifers represent the study group (SG); another 13 animals were evaluated as a validation group (VG). All the heifers were weighed (BW) and their wither height (WH), shin circumference (SC), heart girth circumference (HG), body length (BL), hip width (HW) and body condition score (BCS) were measured immediately after birth, and then weekly until 2 months and monthly until 15 months old. Equations were built with a stepwise regression in order to estimate the BW at each time using body measures for the SG. A linear regression was applied to evaluate the relationship between the estimated BW and the real BW. Equations found were to be statistically significant (r2 = 0.688 to 0.894; p < 0.0001). Three variables or fewer were needed for BW estimation a total of 11/23 times. Regression analysis...

LGB is the most abundant whey protein in ruminant milk. LGB belong to a lipocalin superfamily, wh... more LGB is the most abundant whey protein in ruminant milk. LGB belong to a lipocalin superfamily, which is constituted by proteins with a numbers of functions, mainly related to the transport of metabolites (Pérez and Calvo, 1995). The members of this family show a high similarity, but the major structural motif is a common βbarrel topology (Fig. 1) (Ragona et al., 2000). LGB was proposed as a retinol binding protein in the intestine of newborns and involved in both transport and metabolism of dietary lipids, in order to facilitate the activity of pregastric lipase by sequestering free fatty acids as they are produced. Numerous variants of LGB are identified in cow (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, X, Y, Z, Dr), but the A and B ones are the most frequent. LGB A variant differs from B variant in the amino acid sequence at position 64 (AspA→GlyB) and 118 (ValA→AlaB). Introduction

Italian Journal of Agronomy

In the Mediterranean area, semi-extensive mixed farming systems characterise the inland landscape... more In the Mediterranean area, semi-extensive mixed farming systems characterise the inland landscape and guarantee the maintenance of several agroecosystem services. Rationed and rotational grazing have been proposed as efficient agroecological practices for sustainable intensification. Previous studies have highlighted that, during spring, restricted access time to pasture of below four hours per day decreases herbage intake and milk production of rotationally stoked ewes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of restricted access time on daily herbage intake and milk productivity of Sarda ewes under rotational grazing management in a real farm located in southern Tuscany. The entire flock of 145 lactating ewes was allotted two homogenous groups and rotationally stoked on a grass-legume mixed pasture and fed about 1.7 kg of DM ewe–1 d–1 of supplementation. Each group was then assigned to the following treatments: two hours per day of access time to pasture, from 10:00 to 12:0...

Progress in Nutrition, 2001

La valutazione dei riproduttori negli ovini viene attualmente svolta attraverso i classici metodi... more La valutazione dei riproduttori negli ovini viene attualmente svolta attraverso i classici metodi di stima del valore genetico utilizzando le informazioni relative ai fenotipi ed ai rapporti di parentela. Dato il sistema di allevamento, la difficolta ed il costo dei controlli funzionali e la scarsa efficienza della inseminazione strumentale non in tutte razze viene praticato il miglioramento genetico ed in ogni caso per il latte vengono valutati soltanto gli aspetti quantitativi della produzione (Carta et al . 2009). Tuttavia risultano di particolare interesse per il latte ovino gli aspetti nutraceutici con particolare riguardo al contenuto dei diversi acidi grassi per i quali e stata recentemente dimostrata l’esistenza di un determinismo genetico. L’individuazione dei geni responsabili delle caratteristiche quanti-qualitative del latte ovino permetterebbe quindi di aumentare l’efficienza del miglioramento genetico e di considerare nuovi obiettivi di selezione quali le caratteristic...